Hippotherapy

What is hippotherapy?

Hippotherapy is the use of a horse while providing physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy. This type of therapy utiilizes the natural gait and movement of a horse to provide motor and sensory input. Hippotherapy is based upon improvement of neurological functions and sensory processes to help patients with physical and/or mental challenges.

What does a typical hippotherapy session look like?

A trainted volunteer leader is in front of the horse and one trained volutneer side walker for each side of the horse is supporting the rider. We begin with fun warm up activities such as rings, then proceed to exercises that would typically be performed in the clinic but are performed on horseback.

These might include sit-ups, bridges, standing, and squat to stand.

Finally, the session ends with typical horseback riding that may consist of walk, trotting, and obstacles.

Each session is designed specifically for each client and all activities are modified to meet each individual's needs and goals.